Sosa's early years in the majors were marked by potential and raw talent. After a brief stint with the Rangers, he was traded to the Chicago White Sox, where he played for two seasons. In 1992, Sosa was traded to the Chicago Cubs, a move that would define his career. It was with the Cubs that Sosa's power-hitting abilities began to flourish, and he quickly became a fan favorite at Wrigley Field.
The 1998 season was a turning point for Sosa and is often remembered as one of the most exciting in baseball history. That year, Sosa and Mark McGwire of the St. Louis Cardinals engaged in a thrilling home run race, both players vying to break Roger Maris's long-standing record of 61 home runs in a single season. Sosa finished the season with 66 home runs, just four shy of McGwire's 70, but his performance earned him the National League Most Valuable Player (MVP) award. The home run chase captivated fans and brought renewed attention to the sport.
Throughout his career with the Cubs, Sosa was known for his prodigious home run-hitting ability, hitting over 60 home runs in a season three times (1998, 1999, and 2001). He became the first player in MLB history to achieve this feat. Sosa's charismatic personality and signature "hop" after hitting a home run endeared him to fans and made him one of the most recognizable figures in baseball.
Sosa's tenure with the Cubs lasted until 2004, during which he became the franchise's all-time home run leader. However, his time in Chicago ended on a sour note, with controversies surrounding his departure. In 2005, Sosa was traded to the Baltimore Orioles, where he played for one season. After sitting out the 2006 season, he made a brief comeback with the Texas Rangers in 2007, hitting his 600th career home run, a milestone achieved by only a select few in the history of the game.
Despite his achievements, Sosa's career was not without controversy. He was one of several players implicated in the steroid scandal that rocked Major League Baseball in the early 2000s. Although Sosa has consistently denied using performance-enhancing drugs, the allegations have cast a shadow over his accomplishments.
Sosa's career statistics are impressive, with 609 home runs, 1,667 runs batted in, and a .273 batting average over 18 seasons. He was a seven-time All-Star and won six Silver Slugger Awards, reflecting his prowess as a hitter. His legacy in baseball is complex, marked by both extraordinary achievements and the controversies that followed him.
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